Just lookin' for a Brimstone.

I've been working with the Heart of Sidley team and this morning headed over to Sidley to lead a children's walk in the Combe Valley looking for spring wildlife. A group of keen young naturalists met me on The Green and we headed down Glovers Lane until we left the cars and concrete behind us. The sun was trying to come out from behind the clouds and I confidently promised the team that we'd find a brimstone butterfly today. My hopes were raised when we passed a lady who had indeed seen a "big, yellow butterfly" further along the track.

The birds were singing in the woodlands and now a blackcap had joined the chiffchaffs and song thrushes. The woodland floor is now carpeted with bluebells, dog's mercury and wood anemones and there were cuckoo flowers coming into bloom along the hedgerows.

But there was still a chill in the air which, it seemed, was preventing any butterflies from emerging. The children still helped me to find woodlice, hoverflies, earwings and ladybirds.

Our intrepid explorers were able to skillfully negotiate a series of rather treacherous puddles but there were a few casualities - we had a couple of lost wellies and a lot of soggy socks.

On the way back to Sidley the first swallows of the year arrived; fresh in from their 6000 mile trip from the bottom of Africa.

Thanks to everyone who came along today.